[RP Comp.] The Blind Box

[CassinoChips]

Welcome to

Spoiler

The Blind Box.

Setting: Gaia

Timeline: 160 years after the canon events of FFIX.

What went before: The Mist Continent saw a time of peace and prosperity under the reign of Queen Garnet til Alexandros. Living to the age of 80, Queen Garnet ruled with a velvet fist, judiciously steering her kingdom of Alexandria along the path to wealth and happiness. Lindblum, under Cid Fabool and his progeny, also prospered under the reign of their innovative leader. Burmecia and Cleyra were rebuilt, and were restored to their proper place in the Continent.

Things remained calm for 160 years until, with no warning, an earthquake struck Dali Village. A crevasse rent the hillside in two, and the village was swallowed whole. Some residents were lucky enough to escape. Most were not.

Even more damningly, Mist began coiling up out of the crack, portending the return of vicious monsters to the continent. Unbeknownst to those on the Mist Continent, the Mist is also coiling up from the Desert Palace on the Outer Continent, and from Ipsen’s Castle. Are these events coincidence? Are they connected? Is someone trying to harvest souls?

It is up to you to discover the truth behind these events.

 

[CassinoChips]

JUDGES: PM me your scores ASAP. I'd like them before the next post goes up. If there's an issue, just let me know. Remember the template is in the Info thread.

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"A'other.. Dr.. Drink. Here! Laaaady."

Ophelia flatly ignored the man. It wasn't unusual to encounter one like him in a tavern after all. Silently lamenting her fate in the place which stank terribly of alcohol, and sweat, Ophelia went on to the bartender.

"Heh, Ophe. Not going to serve that man?"

Despite being a bartender of the bar, he had a strangely accurate way of pronouncing his words. However, this was beside the point. Giving him a wry smile, Ophelia replied curtly," No." Her hands went casually to her waist-length hair, brushing it behind her shoulders. This was one of the trademarks of her appearances. The long flowing black hair was one of the many ways people remembered her by.

That, and her pretty face. Her clearly defined eyebrows knitted together into a frown. "So, any news?" She continued, veering away from the topic at hand. The bartender chuckled, picking up a glass and promptly set to cleaning it.

"Nothing really big for you, Ophe. Unless, perhaps, you're interested in what I heard recently about the earthquake at Dali."

"Of course not."

The reply was swift. Ophelia was an assassin. Her interest laid in information about recent injustice- which almost always provided her with her potential clients. "You know what sort of information I seek, Bruce." As the fair-skinned lady delivered her reply, she turned to look over to the crowd behind her.

Night had fallen, and naturally, the tavern was going to get more crowded. "Heh. What are you going to do, Ophe, hook up with a man?"

The bartender, Bruce, said this almost as if this was the truth. Unfortunately, it is, though those men never quite got to the real action before they were knocked out and robbed. Ophelia smiled. Although this was a reality, Bruce didn't actually know this fact, and had just been guessing- from how she got those men to her.

"Really, I'm perpetually amazed at how you are always able to allure those men even with your clothing." He remarked, picking up another glass to clean. Ophelia knew what he meant. After all, she was always dressed in a long-sleeved white-coloured silk tunic, as well as a vest to hold them to herself.

Matching this with a black coloured skirt that reaches past her knees, and form-fitting black trousers within, she had to admit her dressing was nothing as sexy as the prostitutes that roam the tavern.

Giving Bruce a sidewards glance, she replied," The mystery of a woman, I seem to recall them saying."

The bartender feigned awe, as he left Ophelia to attend to another patron. Ophelia continued looking over to the crowd. 'Hm. An earthquake huh?' She thought briefly, before pushing away the thought and focusing back on the crowd.

 

[CassinoChips]

In the quiet grasslands of the Mist Continent, small groups of hunter-gatherers lived on the fringes of the great societies that had developed over time in Alexandria, Lindblum, and Burmecia. Numbering no more than thirty per group, the Hadza lived a nomadic existence, hunting game for sustenance and supplementing their diet with berries, nuts, and whatever they could take from the land. Occasionally, members of the Hadza would interact with those in the towns and cities of the Mist Continent, trading for goods they could not make themselves, or offering their services as guides or -on rare occasion- bodyguards. One of the Hadza groups was even known to regularly traverse Fossil Roo and spend time on the Outer Continent.

Onwas was the elder statesman of one of the groups of Hadza. At 37 years of age, he bore the marks of one who had lived his entire life outdoors. His feet were calloused and rough, the soles almost the same consistency as the leather sandals that protected them. His legs bore scars from chasing wild game through thornbushes and sawgrass. His torso, lean and muscular, was tanned a deep bronze from constant exposure to the sun. His face also had scars, but those were put on his face by his father. On his high cheekbones were marks that looked like a box with a cross through it. Crying was a sign of weakness for the Hadza, so they made these small cuts in their young children's faces so that when the tears touched them, it stung. Being a Hadza was a life of toughness. There was no time to cry over loss, or pain, or anything else.

The earthquake that swallowed Dali did little to disrupt the every day life of the Hadza. Even Onwas's group, who had been bedded down a few miles outside of Dali for the previous few days, simply went on with their daily routine. All it was for Onwas was another story to tell, which in Onwas's eyes was a boon. Storytelling was entertainment for the Hadza. They put on no plays, they read no books; their only way to pass the time was to hunt, fish, gather, or tell stories. Onwas was respected amongst all Hadza for his ability to weave tales. Surely, within short order, the earthquake would creep into one of his yarns around the communal fire.

Life did continue on, much the same as it had for the hundreds of years of Hadza existence. But they did notice the Mist swirling out of the crevasse, and it disconcerted them, so they decided to move on, heading east. A few days later, Onwas's teenage son began to undergo strange changes. He became beast-like in attitude and demeanor, and one night he left camp, never to return. As a guide, Onwas had heard tell of the Mist that affected the Mist Continent all those years ago, and he was concerned that there may be a connection between the reappearance of the Mist and his son's disappearance.

So he made his way to Alexandria, in the hopes of finding some answers.

The hustle and bustle of the big city overwhelmed him on the rare occasions he came to Alexandria. As was his custom, he took a seat on the rim of the fountain in the plaza near the eastern entrance to the city and watched much of the crowd go by, taking things in, and adjusting to the pace of the people. He went by almost unnoticed, as his small stature allowed him to blend into the crowd somewhat. He did receive a few curious stares here and there, but he did his best to deflect them with a smile and a nod in casual greeting.

As he sat, he considered his options as to where to go next.

 

[CassinoChips]

Amidst the shambles in what used to be the quiet little town known as Dali Village, a few bystanders remained in the distance, careful not to set foot upon the edge of the darkened abyss. The massive hole that the sudden earthquake had created was a monstrous sight, leaving a deathly scene of chaos trailing everywhere in its path. The shadowed gloom that cast upon the site was intent to leave no mercy, except for the fortunate few that had escaped moments prior to the engulfment of the village.

Genevieve was among the lucky survivors. She stood with the crowd that was growing by the minute and faced the fallout that was once her home from a distance, shutting out the faces of agony around her. The tears trickled one last time as she replayed the surreal images in her mind.


“What are you doing, Mama?”

“Baking a cake, dear. Did you forget? It’s Daddy’s birthday tomorrow.” Genevieve glanced at her 4-year-old daughter Rose, who was staring intently at the mix, a delightful smile plastered on her face.

Rose wrinkled her nose and inquired wisely, “So does that mean he gets another cake tomorrow?” Genevieve smiled at the logic behind the question, shaking her head.

“Daddy’s leaving early tomorrow morning and won’t be home until nightfall, so we’ll celebrate tonight.” She momentarily checked the pot and announced, “Go ahead and wash your hands in the basin, Rose. Lunch will be ready soon.” Rose left the kitchen and headed towards the adjoining room.

As Genevieve stirred the beef stew, she heard the familiar footsteps that brought comfort to her life the past six years. Cade entered and her heart swelled at the sight of him. She greeted him warmly with a smile, and Cade swept her up, planting a gentle kiss on her lips. For a few fleeting moments, everything was perfect. A family, a home – two basic needs in life she ever wanted.

As they broke apart to check on Rose, the ground suddenly shook, the great monstrosity unveiling its elemental strength. Genevieve screamed, her face etched with such intense fear. An earthquake had struck the village, and it was only a matter of time before everything collapses! Cade had taken hold of her hand and rushed into the kitchen, and the bellowing of the earth’s awakening drew ever closer. Both were suddenly plunged across the room by the violent quake. Genevieve cried out in pain as she crashed her head on a nearby table, damaging her parietal bone. The pain sliced like a knife and black shadows loomed over her, but with all her might, she tried to elude it as she stood up on wobbly feet. “Rose! Rose! Cade, where is she?!”

Adrenaline pumping into her system, she dashed towards the next room and immediately gasped in horror. A truss had finally lost its strength and fell upon Rose’s lifeless body. There was no time to react further – the house and everything that was in it, started to crumble. Genevieve wailed at the loss of her daughter as her husband quickly led her outside, her mind still reeling from her young flower’s fate. After several lacerations suffered by both, Genevieve finally collapsed as they made it outside, but a vertical support beam had collapsed on Cade, which rendered his legs immobile. The last thing she remembered was the heightened shrieks from the villagers and unfamiliar hands that carried her weakened body.

Genevieve awoke with a sudden start and a throbbing pain in her head. Her body was covered with thick dust and dried maroon blood. Minutes later, she was informed by the village elders that she had also lost Cade amidst the chaos. He had pleaded to an older man making an escape route to save her the very last minute before the final destruction.



Face hardened with the bitter memory of her family’s final moments, Genevieve continued to gaze out in the open field, the sun shying away from the Dali’s downfall. Her heart mirrored the ghastly sight before her. At 25 years of age, she felt twice older as the detrimental effects she experienced sucked out her remaining strength. Sobbing uncontrollably, she finally fell on her knees in defeat and clenched her fist on the earth.

 

[CassinoChips]

The first thing Phaedra saw when she opened her eyes that morning was her own gaze reflected back at her on his smooth surface. A smile grew on her lips as she lay next to him, and she greeted him warmly.


“Good morning, Erasmus.”


It was indeed a good morning in the kingdom of Alexandria. With over one hundred years gone by without major conflict and strife, it was truly an era of peace. It was a peace that many hoped would last forever. However, peace brought changes that some people were not ready to cope with.


After putting on decent clothing, Phaedra began wondering around her family's mansion with her beloved Erasmus by her side. Small cobwebs hung from the ceiling, and a light film of dust rested on top of the furniture.


“I remember when Grandfather told stories of his childhood, and the many servants that used to serve under our family,” Phaedra said as she looked around her home. “I suppose this house is too big for one servant to take care of.”


The Amsels used to be one of the great noble families of Alexandria. Each generation, the eldest child was sent to join the Alexandrian military, and become a knight to fight for the queen. War brought the Amsel household glory and prosperity. When peace spread across the land 160 years ago, there was no longer any glory to be gained by becoming a knight, and eventually the Amsel's way of fighting, and wealth began to decline.


Phaedra and Erasmus wondered into a long hallway with many paintings hanging on either side. There was one painting that Phaedra was very familiar with. It was a portrait of a woman holding Erasmus in her arms. Just like Phaedra, the woman had dark skin, long black hair, and bright blue eyes. This woman was one of Phaedra's ancestors, and was a great knight who brought honor and glory to her family while serving in the military. Phaedra's grandfather had told her many stories of this woman before she went to bed as a child. It was Phaedra's dream to become just like her.


“Oh, I see that you are awake, my dear. And with Erasmus by your side, nonetheless,” came a voice from behind.


“Good morning grandfather,” Phaedra greeted.


“Dear, I'm happy that you are interested in the history of our family, but I do wish that you would not sleep with Erasmus and carry it around the house so much.”


For generations the Amsel's fought as knights in the military, and for generations a certain item was passed down to the eldest child. Several years ago, Phaedra had found it in an old box while curiously looking through one of the storage houses. Forgotten and neglected, it was covered in dust, and it was beginning to rust. For Phaedra, it was love at first sight. She brought it to her grandfather, and begged him to have it restored. From that day on, Phaedra heard many stories of her family's history, and tried to learn as much as she could on how to use the lance, Erasmus.


“Just wait, grandfather. With Erasmus by my side, I will return honor to the Amsel name!” she said with confidence. “I'm going out for a bit. I'll be back later.” Since the day was so nice, she decided to walk around town for a bit, and visit the plaza.


Phaedra's grandfather could only stand and watch as his granddaughter left. In all honesty, he had no idea what to do with that girl.

 

[CassinoChips]

Sorry for the delay, folks. Having severe server issues, so I wasn't very keen on slogging through to put this up. But we soldier on.
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Her feet parting the sand around her, Maia traipsed carefully through the ruins of Cleyra, the old desert village destroyed by Queen Brahne.

Apparently, the sight from afar had been magnificent. The great Eidolon Odin, beckoned forth by Dark Matter, had materialised in the sky and annihilated the entire village and most of its residents with his great spear, Gungnir.

Such power. It was lamentable that this incredible strength was not available to her.

Still, it wasn't as though she was helpless. Far from it.

The little pair of silver pistols at her waist were ready for any monster that decided it wanted a little Alexandrian girl as a snack.

In her early twenties, Maia was a beautiful figure, in a knee length white skirt and shirt to protect against the blazing heat. However, gauntlets protected her legs and arms, and she could look after her own head well enough.

At least, she hoped so. This was her first time really venturing from home and she had only encountered a few monsters so far. Weak monsters, defeated by a single gunshot.

Yet here there was no human life. Merely the sound of the wind softly stirring sand.

The treasure ought to be great though. This place had remained untouched for over two centuries now. All sorts of Cleyran artifacts were probably begging to be dug up beneath the sand. Some money to help her family survive would be wonderful.

The clasps strapping the shovel (rather uncomfortably) to her back broke at her fingers' persuasive touch, and she grasped the shovel lightly.

The earthquake meant nothing to her if she couldn't use it to protect her family.

"Alrighty. Time to dig!" she smiled brightly to herself.

For the first time, Maia looked over the vast expanse of sand and her eyes widened as despair washed over her.

"But... where do I start?"

 

[CassinoChips]

The rays of the morning shone into the room. This reflected off a vase by the window, blinding the girl as she got off the bed. She sighed loudly, walking over to the dressing table. By habit, she started brushing her hair, although her vision was still blurry. However, her sight improved gradually, and with it, came the memories of the previous day.

Like most days recently, she had gone without a job. Years of peace were starting to take its toll on her diminishing wealth. She sighed again, putting down the brush to stare at the girl in the mirror. “What next, lil’ girl?” She asked.

Smiling, Ophelia shook her head. Turning away from the mirror, she couldn’t help but sigh once more. She had already known that should she not manage to find a job soon, this luxury suite would no longer serve as her accommodation.

That means, no more soft, large and comfy beds. No more cool rooms, which blocked out the day’s heat when she slept in. No more of the comfort that she had grew so accustomed to since the day she first set foot into Alexandria.

These prospects brought a distasteful expression onto the girl’s face. Her fair features became dark for a moment as she visualized the scenario. Clenching her fists, she quickly stomped towards the cabinet, changing into fresh new clothes- although it was still her trademark dress code.

That is, long-sleeved milky white silk tunic, with a dark vest of the same material to hold her clothes to her. This came matched with her black, knee-length skirt and form-fitting trousers within.

Leaving the inn, she walked out onto the Alexandrian streets. Although it was still morning, the city was already bustling with life. The shops were now opened, and tourists and residents alike mixed in with each other on the streets. Young children played the game of catch, while the elderly sat around chatting with one another.

Such a scene of peace only meant less business to her. Ophelia pushed this thought from her mind, focusing on the cacophony of voices on the streets. At this time, a trip to the tavern would yield no news- since it’s closed. As such, she realized, her walk was taking her nowhere.

Still, she continued, and saw herself reaching the plaza near the eastern entrance of the city. In the middle of this plaza, was a fountain, and at it’s rim, was this strange person that sat, watching the crowd go by. However, what was more eye-catching about him was his appearance.

His legs bore numerous scars. The same went with his face, which seemed more like a pattern. Nevertheless, her curiosity was already piqued. For a man to bear this much scars, and sport such shoddy appearances, it was certainly unusual. Secretly, Ophelia prayed this man had some form of business for her, as she came up to him.

“Hey.” She greeted, nodding as she came closer to the man.

 

[CassinoChips]

Rosso unstrapped her blade from around her back as she became aware of the mist rising in winding patterns into the air coming from the ground,about half a mile away.
Not wanting to risk anything sprinted the first several hundred meters then when she saw other people in the area decided it was safest not to get to close and began to edge around to a side that was free of any bystanders.

Stepping close to the edge of the abyss Rosso brushed a few strands of her crimson hair back, so as to allow her an unobstructed view of the abyss and the mist rising from within.
"What has happened here?" Rosso spoke to herself shocked at the thought of what had caused this monstrosity to form. "And what is this mist I see?" She spoke softly to herself as she watched the mist rolling into the air.

"Something is coming, Somethings not right, I can feel it, this mist it.... its a warning of a coming danger" Rosso suddenly stood bolt upright and doubled back the way she had came, heading for the kingdom of Alexandria.

Rosso set of at a sprint that even a chocobo bred for the races would have trouble maintaining for the distances Rosso could cover.
From a young age Rosso had trained herself in hand to hand combat, marksmanship and agility, for when the day came that she had to face her personal demons again. She had witnessed her family massacred at the hands of a few rouge soldiers of the kingdom of Alexandria, and from that day has vowed that one day she would excact her revenge on those bastards who let it happen.

Rosso didnt stop sprinting even as the tears rolled down her cheeks dampening the ground beneath her as she ran.

Rosso stopped as she reached the edge of a small village at which she would stay, till she was ready to leave for the rest of her journey. The distance Rosso had covered seemed impossible even to her.

Rosso made her way to an abandoned barn in which she would rest for a few hours till she had regained her strength. As she settled herself down on her cloak which she then wrapped around herself several times, she suddenly felt a wave of something she hadnt felt for a long time, scared for the fact she could sense something evil was coming.

 

[CassinoChips]

A low, guttural growl reached her ears. Maia spun around, her psitols in her hand at once, the shovel discarded to the desert floor

Something was lurking in this place. She could see it moving behind the swirling sand. Something large, supported by four thick, tree trunk legs. It had to be at least four foot, and it wasn't even upright.

As whatever this thing was growled once again, maia saw a gleaming set of razor sharp teeth in a huge maw, and gripped her dual silver pistols even tighter, making her knuckles go white.

Now it stepped through the sand, one basalt coloured foot after another. It's claws were sheathed inside immense black pads, buut even as Maia noticed this, they extended with the sound of metal screeching on metal.

Grimacing at the noise, Maia quickly glanced at her weapons. Eight bullets in both cartridges. She just hoped it would be enough. The monster's thick hide could probably take a few bullets.

Eyes bright with combined adrenaline and fear, Maia fired both pistols.

The left bullet spun as it left the barrel of the gun, flying over the monster's head and disappearing over the horizon.

The right bullet, however, struck home, hitting the monster in its lower abdomen and drawing a wellspring of scarlet blood.

However, the horned beast wasn't down for the count yet. Even as blood continued to erupt from its wound like a fountain, it charged, its frighteningly sharp horn pointed towards her chest. For such a large creature, it was also incredibly fast, closing in on her with blinding speed. And so, when its horns were inches away, Maia obeyed her instincts.

And jumped.

The monster's horn had hooked onto the back of her shirt, and she was moving as it charged recklessly onward. Maia let out a shriek as the monster desperately tried to shake her off, and one of her prized pistols flew from her palm and out of sight.

Somehow, even as she dangled from the monsters horn, she managed to grip the huge ivory spike and use it as support, dangling in front of the monster's eyes and firing her second pistol, her arm in agaony as she shot straight between the beast's eyes.

With an almighty howl, it dropped to the ground and was still. Exhausted, Maia lay down beside it, gulping in deep breaths as her heart rate returned to normal.

When she had finally recovered, she got to her feet and located her pistol.

Only now did her eyes fall on the dead monster. Its horn. Ivory. She could sell it.

Sheathing her pistols, she grabbed her shovel and hacked at the monster's horn until it broke loose and she packed it away in her bag.

It might be barbaric, but she would do anything for a little income. It wasn't just for her.

Shovel in hand, she resumed her tedious digging task.

 

[CassinoChips]

Hands trembling slightly, Genevieve accepted the wooden bowl and drank. The cool rush of water washed down her dry throat and revived a tiny bit of life inside her. She murmured a quick thanks to the older man but avoided eye contact. She could not stand the look of pity in his eyes and tried her best to avert her gaze elsewhere.

Far off the distance, she noticed the patch of cloud covering the area of what used to be Dali. She winced and shaded her blue eyes as she slowly stood up. “Why would there be clouds…” She reigned in her thoughts and focused harder, her body rigid as she witnessed the thick smoke rising from underneath the ground that reminded her of eerie ghosts. “Mist…”

Genevieve knew a small chunk of history of the Mist from her grandfather. As a child, he often told her stories about the kind-hearted Queen Garnet and a legendary thief that saved the world of Gaia. According to him and later confirmed by the other villagers when she asked for more clarity, the Mist was an essential part of energy sources to power more advanced technologies. She also vaguely recalled a being called SoulCage, the main source of the Mist, who was eventually defeated in battle. She tried to rack her brain for more information but either she has not enough knowledge of him or her thoughts are still muddled by today’s events.

As folks gathered around and the frightened whispers heightened, Genevieve caught a tiny glance of movement on the ground. The unusual form of silhouettes was hard to determine from the distance, but the goose bumps on her body recognized the expected danger to come. Still, she must not waste any more time. Genevieve gathered up her blue skirts and walked briskly past the small crowd, calling out for attention, “Everyone! Quick, to Alexandria! We must get protection! There are monsters in the mist!”

Now frantic, Genevieve could not ignore that there may be a connection with SoulCage and the sudden return of the Mist and monsters. Or perhaps another creature is involved, a more vicious one at that, but she was determined to unravel the mystery behind it all the same.

She turned back to her disastrous home village in agony, the wind caressing her golden-brown hair and whispered a final goodbye to Cade and Rose. “I’ll find out what happened…” she silently vowed, and the sound of monstrous shrieks bellowed out in return.

Genevieve was not at all looking forward to returning to her birthplace due to her past. Raised by her grandparents until she was seventeen, Genevieve does not wish to have anything to do with the people there, but at this rate, she has no choice but to seek help.